Daniela Paternina Martinez, Dr Helen Robert and Dr Scott Roberts  

Middlesex University 

Part funded PhD project (2021-2024)

BACKGROUND TO THE RESEARCH PROJECT

Metastatic disease is one of the major factors affecting osteosarcoma (OS) prognosis. Survival rate of patients with metastasis is 20% to 30%, compared to up to 80% in non-metastatic patients. This project aimed to identify how osteosarcoma cells spread to other tissues such as the lungs. Recent evidence shows that loss of a osteoclasts ((OCs); cells that break down bone) in the bone microenvironment is associated with lung metastasis.

KEY RESULTS

Due to the absence of innovative treatments for osteosarcoma (OS) since the advent of chemotherapy in the early 1980s and the stagnant survival rates for patients with metastatic OS, there is a pressing demand for enhanced therapeutic approaches. 

The Roberts lab has established a model for osteosarcoma initiation and metastasis, alongside the identification of key targets through sequencing that may be able to stop osteosarcoma in its tracks.

OTHER OUTPUTS, KNOWLEDGE AND FUTURE STEPS

Publications:

Paternina Martinez, D., Roberts, S. and Roberts, H.C. (2022). Migratory bodies express markers of tumour initiating cells and may represent an early stage of osteosarcoma sarcosphere initiation and metastasis. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Plus.

Presentations:

Paternina Martinez, D., Roberts, S.J and Roberts, H.C (2022). Migratory bodies express markers of tumour initiating cells and may represent an early stage of osteosarcoma sarcosphere initiation and metastasis. Research Students' Summer Conference. Middlesex University, London, UK June 2022.

Paternina Martinez, D., Roberts, S.J and Roberts, H.C (2023.) Osteoclasts and mesenchymal stromal cells release factors that modulate migratory body formation in highly metastatic osteosarcoma cells. Research Students' Summer Conference. Middlesex University, London, UK July 2023.

Oral presentation at the Skeletal Biology Group Research Seminar – Presentation titled “Delineating the metastatic process in osteosarcoma: the role of bone cells, the cell environment and autophagy”. Royal Veterinary College - February 2022, London.

Poster presentation and poster pitch of abstract entitled “Migratory bodies express markers of tumour initiating cells and may represent an early stage of osteosarcoma sarcosphere initiation and metastasis” Bone Research Society Annual Meeting -July 2022, Manchester.

Oral presentation titled “Bone cells modulate migratory behaviour of osteosarcoma: implications for metastasis” Bloomsbury Centre for Skeletal Research Meeting – June 2023, London.